Hotel Cosmos 100 Bogota

... that the showers are inside but no real windows… So, the cold air blows through while you are showering or going to the bathroom. Yikes!!

So, after a cold shower, my roommates and I headed out for a long walk through the streets of Bogotá. I saw more churches in one spot than I have ever seen. I think I went into 6 churches. While walking we came across a great town square. In the courtyard, there were a ton of pigeons. It was kind of gross but fun at the ...

... und man trennt die Wäsche nur nach hell und dunkel) und bin mit dem Hund raus gegangen.

Dann hat mich aber um 3 Lena angerufen, die nur ein paar Transmileniostationen weit weg wohnt, und gefragt ob wir zusammen in die Stadt fahren (also ins Centro) und dort ein paar andere Deutsche treffen. Das haben wir dann auch gemacht und es ist einfach unglaublich da! Es gibt überall Märkte auf denen man einfach ALLES kaufen kann! Unglaublich schönen Schmuck, Bücher, Taschen, Kleidung ...

... found myself much more comfortable wandering around here than in Medellin as it has a slightly more upmarket feel to it.

There are plenty of museums if you´re into history or art. I thought I would check out the Botero meseum after seeing all those sculptures of his in Medellin, but managed to go there on the only day it´s closed (tuesday) so will check it out later today instead.

Yesterday, I took the Transmilenio (self ...

... de wijsneus uithangen).

Om een lang verhaal kort te maken; we moesten wachten totdat er nieuwe bus uit Medellin was gearriveerd... uiteindelijk reden we iets voor 5u verder richting Bogota en arriveerden hier om 11u. Nou ja ik was allang blij dat we niet net langs een klif reden ofzo :) Niks aan de hand verder, weer een nieuw avontuur beleefd!!

Vrijdagmiddag met Willem als vanouds biertjes gedronken en bijgeklets... was mooi!! Zatredag met Willem een beetje ...

okay. so i am done with the buses on this continent. seriously. i can't take them anymore. I just recently completed a 37 hour haul from Quito (not a very cool city) to Bogotá... i thought of buying a direct ticket, but a travel agent advised me against it due to the extreme cost... but usually cost goes up in proportion to the convenience added. Hence, i saved money by not taking the direct one, but lost the convenience... the story is ridiculous ...

... sweaty, hungover, non air-conditioned bus ride to Caracas. Splashed out a bit in my final days. Got a bargain on the flights and sussed out the cheapest Pousada which fed me as well for Bs$150 per day. Thats incredibly expensive for SA - indeed everything about the place was expensive but it is a paradise. Money well spent before heading back to the toil and trouble of the real world.

... 2 weeks we were on the verge of a violent argument. Amidst all the controversy, lies and exaggerations it is almost impossible to get a clear picture of what Chavez has done or not done for the country, one thing however is brutally clear; he has turned neighbours into enemies, supporters into fanatics and inspired such an intense, burning hatred amongst his opponents that in the volatile world of Latin American politics this surely  ;cannot be a good thing.

... when you're in the mountains, since it helps you deal with the altitude. Coffee always seemed to be made by mixing pre brewed cold strong coffee with hot water. Round 2 to Peru, by a nose. Round 3: Wildlife In Venezuela it was all about Los Llanos, the flat plains east of the mountains. We are helped here by the fact that we were there on a wildlife safari. The list seems endless but for example we saw caymen, capivaras, giant anteaters, freshwater dolphins, turtles, big ...

... on winding roads. Had to lay down on the seats to stop myself from throwing up! Finally got to my hotel at 3am only to find they didn't have a room for me...... not a good start to LTD.... Didn't stay in Caracas long, quite simply it was a **** city!!

... And I have been making tons of new friends; there are a lot of other students from California as well as a lot of students from Colorado. Everyone is so nice and we are all bonding so quickly while on the ship. I would love to hear back from all of you... E-mails are a great way to brighten my day! I miss everyone so much and please keep me updated on your lives and of what's going on in the world...I feel really disconnected! XOXO- Emily "the world explorer" Schwartz